After two years as the MotoGP World Champion, Francesco Bagnaia has lost his crown to Jorge Martin.

Francesco Bagnaia has run the #1 plate in MotoGP for the last two seasons after winning the title in 2022 and 2023. However, it will be a different story in 2025 after he lost the Championship fight to Jorge Martin in 2024.

Bagnaia and Martin fought for the title throughout the 2024 season, with the riders trading first and second in the standings almost every weekend. But in the MotoGP season finale, Martin was crowned World Champion as he beat Bagnaia by 10 points.

After the race, Bagnaia spoke to MotoGP.com about his feelings after losing the Championship and the #1 plate.

"Not much to be honest, I had already accepted it after my Sprint Race in Malaysia," Bagnaia explained. "I understood that it would be difficult to win the Championship after another mistake. I just tried to do my maximum and win all three races, but it was not enough. This season Jorge has learned that sometimes it is better to be patient and finish second rather than win, he did a fantastic job and he deserves the title.

"From our side we could not have done better because I had more victories than every other rider this season. Next year we have to improve in some areas, and I have to understand some situations better because I have been taken out three times by other riders. I also had an issue with the bike and crashed four times, I have to improve and I will try to do it for next year. I am a rider who never gives up, but maybe it is better to finish in fifth or fourth than crash, but this is something that I will learn."

'He deserves everything that he has achieved this season.'

Bagnaia went on to explain how Martin's consistency in 2024 was the deciding factor in the title fight. Because even though Bagnaia won the most races Martin was still able to collect crucial points when Bagnaia crashed out of important races.

"We know that this has been a Championship of two sides, strength and consistency," Bagnaia stated. "Jorge was the consistency and we were the strength. We dominated everything but it was not enough because Jorge did 18 or 17 second places, but I had like two. This is something that I must learn, and I will study."

Finally, Bagnaia discussed the new MotoGP World Champion speaking on how Martin deserves the 2024 crown.

"He deserves everything that he has achieved this season," Bagnaia claimed. "I think if anyone other than me could have won this title it would be him, I am happy that he won this. He deserves it, he is a great guy with a great family, and we know each other very well. They deserve the title, they had a very fantastic season, and Jorge was very consistent and understood the situation. There is full respect between us as it was a fair battle."